More than 12,000 Tesco workers are to be balloted for industrial action.

Their union Mandate says the company refused to accept a Labour Court recommendation on wage increases and is attempting to force significant pay cuts on staff.

The Labour Court said all Tesco workers are entitled to a 2% pay rise and share a bonus payment.

However, the supermarket giant has told more than 1,000 workers here they will not be getting the pay rise - and will instead face cuts of at least 15%.

Mandate General Secretary John Douglas said, “this has to be seen for what it is, an attack on low-paid workers by a very profitable multinational retailer who are trying to increase their profits at the expense of their long serving staff in Ireland.

"We believe our members will see through this and stand together to ensure no worker in Tesco faces cuts and instead the company implements the full terms of the Labour Court recommendation,” he added.

Trade union SIPTU has also said it will not accept proposals from Tesco to cut the wages of long-serving staff at the company.

Tesco intends to change the employment conditions of all staff employed since before 1996.